Method of playing a golf game

ABSTRACT

A method of playing a golf game on a golf course which includes approach greens on a forward fairway, consecutively numbered teeing positions which are further identified as being the tee positions for holes having specified pars, a rearward putting area including a plurality of holes therein numbered to correspond with the consecutively numbered teeing positions, and conventional hazards forward and rearward of the teeing positions. The method of play involves the steps of hitting one ball forwardly for par-3 holes and two balls forwardly for par- 4 and par- 5 holes. Subsequent shots are hit rearward of the teeing positions and, for a par-5 hole, may involve putting the closer of a third and fourth ball hit to the putting area.

United States Patent [151 3,685,832 Johnson [4 1 Aug. 22, 1972 [54] METHOD OF PLAYING A GOLF GANIE Primary Examiner-George J Marlo 72 Inventor: Theodore B. Johnson, 4512 Dixie Atwmey Hamess, Dlckey &

Highway, P.O. Box 397, Drayton Plains, Mich. 48020 ABSTRACT [22] Filed: July 12, 1968 A method of playing a golf game on a golf course which includes approach greens on a forward fairway, [211 App! 744476 consecutively numbered teeing positions which are further identified as being the tee positions for holes [52] US. Cl. ..273/176 A having specified pars, a rearward putting area includ- [51] Int. Cl. ..A63b 67/02 ing a plurality of holes therein numbered to cor- [58] Field of Search ..273/ 176; 034/5 respond with the consecutively numbered teeing positions, and conventional hazards forward and rearward References Clled of the teeing positions. The method of play involves the steps of hitting one ball forwardly for par-3 holes UNITED STATES PATENTS and two balls forwardly for par- 4 and par- 5 holes. A Subsequent shots are rearward of the teeing pogi- 2,248,053 7/1941 Bales ..273/176A tions and, f a 5 h l may involve putting the Gage A lo er of a and fourth to the area 3,464,703 9/1969 Vallas ..273/176 A 1 Claim, 1 Drawing Figure METHOD OF PLAYING A GOLF GAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As the story goes, while the Duke of York, later James II, was in residence at Holyrood, Scotland (1682 the discussion arose between him and two English noblemen as to whether golf had been played as long in England as in Scotland. James championed the claims of Scotland and quoted Acts of the Scottish Parliament of 1457 with reference to the game. Similar evidence of antiquity not being forthcoming for England, they proposed to decide it by playing a game at Leith Links for stakes. James selected as his partner for Scotland the best golfer of his day and the descendant of a long line of golfers, John Paterson, a shoemaker from Edinburgh. The game resulted in a win for James and the cobbler. The stakes were handed to Paterson with which he built a house in the Canongate, Edinburgh still standing and known as Golfers Land. He placed a tablet on the front of it bearing the Paterson arms with the crest of a hand holding a golf club and the motto Far and sure This and other such folklore serve to highlight the auspicious beginnings of the game of golf. At first, principally reserved for nobility-today, the game is played daily by both rich and poor. Golfers wearing fancycolored garb light-up courses everywhere. Equipment is varied and usually well-manufactured.

The motto of that early cobbler, though, seems to ring equally true today. Courses are, indeed, long and far. Ranging anywhere from 6,000 to 7,500 yards, the average golfer playing a round may walk as far as 4 to 5 miles. Good exercise, yes, but many such would-be golfers cannot meet the test. From the handicapped and the aged to the busy executive, such long jaunts through the wilds of the links are tedious and oftentimes more gruesome than'pleasurable. Not only is the walk long, but more and more the wait is even longer. Weather, too, plays an important role. Precipitation and excessive heat may make play either unfeasible or extremely uncomfortable. It is estimated that approximately ten million golfers today play the game. In a large metropolis, it may take as long as five to six hours to negotiate a golf course. Such conditions as these make the game frustrating to some and unplayable by others.

The present invention, however, is adapted to overcome the objectionable aura which has arisen in connection with the conventional golf course through a unique system of maximum driving-minimum walking. Through a series of tees arranged intermediate a fairway on one side which is lined with a plurality of greens and hazards, and a large chipping and putting area common to all holes on the other, a golfer will be able to play a game with much more dispatch and yet still achieve a maximum of torso exercise while keeping walking to a minimum.

Practice courses of all types dot the worlds landscape. From the typical driving range to the ever present minature or putting course, golfers are enticed to enter in order to practice their game, and at the same time, enjoy a momentary diversion. None, however, confront the golfer with realistic hazards which are likely to be encountered on a typical course. Moreover, none provide facilities whereby the allaround practice, so necessary to the maintenance of good rhythm and timing, can be either attained or improved.

The present invention is not a practice range, but rather a golf course. Different from the conventional course only in regard to the walking distance required; the general approach to the play of the short game involving chipping, sand play and putting; and the substantiallysmall parcel of land required- While the conventional and average course encompasses an area in excess of acres, the present invention can be played within the confines of but a few acres. Types and placement of hazards remain essentially the same.

The sequence of play remains unchanged. It is the method and general location of play which is the novel feature of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to golf courses and,

more particularly, to a new and improved method of playing golf which provides for maximum driving and minimum walking.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. A

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The FIGURE is a schematic representation of a golf course constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment for practicing the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now in detail to the drawing, a golf course 10, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention, is shown as comprising a plurality of teeing positions 12 situated intermediate a fairway l4 and a chipping area 18. The teeing positions serve as vantage points to several par-3, par-4 or par-5 holes and are sequentially arranged and positioned in a sideby-side relationship.

Thev teeing positions 12 generally face toward the fairway 14 in the direction indicated by the phanton arrows.'The fairway 14 is positioned longitudinally relative to the tees 12 and comprises a plurality of generally circular-shaped approach greens A through F and which may be positioned in any suitable arrangement relative'one another. Each green may be dimensionally different and may also be situated at any suitable distance relative to the tees 12. Each approach green A through F consists of a pin 20 which serves to mark the hole existent within the green and which serves as the target position to which a player located within the teeing position 12 will drive.

The fairway l4, besides having its own rolling and undulating features, is also strategically lined with various types of hazards. For example, a watery challenge in the form of lake 22 is situated at .any suitable distance forward of the teeing positions 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the lake 22 is surrounded by trees' or bushes 24 which will serve to psychologically affect the golfers play. Additionally, the approach greens are well-bunkered with suitably placed sand traps 26. A

3 rough or uncut, high-grass portion 28 is provided along the periphery of the fairway 14 and runs longitudinally from the teeing positions 12 relative to the fairway 14.

Abafi or rearwardly of the teeing positions 12 is a chipping area 1.8 which comprises a generally elongated green 32 and a plurality of strategically placed bunkers 34. The green is utilized as a common green to all the tees, and it will be notedthat a pin 35 is situated in a hole 36 which corresponds to the number of one of the various tees 12 located forward of said green 32. A

cation and utilize any dimensions desirable. Distances from the teeing positions 12 to the forward approach greens A through F should be marked through the use of some form of placard placed either in the vicinity of the teeing positions 12 or in the periphery of the fairway 14 and adjacent .the forward approach greens A through F. Any reasonable distance may be specified, however, in so doing, each player should be afforded the opportunity of utilizing most clubs during the course of play.

' A unique system of play is also endemic to the game of the present invention in that one to four players may play off of each tee l2 simultaneously, as in ordinary golf. Any particular club may be used depending on the strength and dexterity of the player. Only one ball is driven forward for a par-3 hole..Two balls are driven forward on apar-4 and a par-5. hole. All first shots are teed,while all second shots may be stroked form any suitable mat 40 or from'any grassy area laying between the tees 12. Each ball is played in the direction of the phanton arrows which point toward a particular green. A par-3 hole utilizes only one. green, while a par-4 or par-5 hole'will utilize two different greens. Should a ball land within the lake 22 or the rough '28 a penalty stroke may be assigned and another ball thereafter hit in the direction of the designated green. Players never go forward to either retrieve balls or continue play. The

short game is played in the chipping area 18 and balls are tossed into the area so as to equal approximately the position of the forward ball relative to the green 32 or the pin 20. v

The drawing shows the par designation for each tee position. Tee position "2 is designated as being a par- 4 hole wherein the player hits the balls forward as shown by the phantom lines to green B with the first ball and to green A with the second ball. The first shot is usually made to the green farthest from the tee and the ball will normally be hit with a wood club necessitating the elevation of the ball onto a tee. The second shot is usually made to a green closer to the tee than the green used as a target for the first and will normally be hit from the grass portion of the tee as though the player were hitting the shot from the fairway toward the green in the customary approach shot.

It will be readily apparent from the descriptional layout hereinabove set forth that a multitudinous variety of ways can be established by which the game of golf can be played within the confines of our embodiment. One preferred method is as follows.

illustrative of play, in the case of par-4 holes, if both first and second balls land on the appropriate greens,

then a third ball isplaced on the green 32 in a position such that the distance will correspond with that between the ball and the hole on one of the forward approach greens A through F. Once the ball is placed, it is then putted toward the appropriate hole. Ifonly one ball lands on the proper forward green or if no ball lands on the forward green, then a third ball is placed within the chipping area 18 and is then chipped toward green 32. Once on the green 32, the ball is then putted into the appropriate hole. If a player should accidentally chip a ball into an adjoining sand trap, then the shot to the green must be played from the trap. If any of the first two balls come to rest in a forward sand trap 26, then a third ball is placed in one of the sand traps abaft said teeing positions 12 and located generally behind the teeing position. From that point, the ball is then blasted" toward the green 32 and then putted into the appropriate hole.

In the case of a pat-5 hole, one ball is driven from the tee'12 towards an appropriate green while a second ball is then stroked from the mat or grassy area towards the second of the two designated greens. If both first and second balls land on the appropriate greens then a third ball is placed on the green 32 and putted into the respective hole. If only one ball stops on a proper forward green, a third ball is placed within the chipping area 18, chipped towards the green 32 and putted to its appropriate hole. If, as in a par-4 hole, a ball is chipped into an adjoining sand trap, the next shot must be made from the sand trap. If neither of the first two balls lands on the proper forward green, then the player drops two balls into the back chipping area, chips both balls to the green 32 and then putts the one ball which is closerto the appropriate cup. If any of the first two balls lands in a forward bunkered position 26, a third ball is then placed in one of the back bunkered positions 34, and blasted toward the green 32. A fourth ball is dropped within the chipping area, chipped toward the green 32 and then the closer of the two balls is putted into the appropriate hole. If both balls land within a forward bunker 26, then the player drops two balls within the appropriate rear bunker 34, blasts both toward the green 32 and thenputts the ball closer to the hole.

Regardless of the par depicted for each hole, if all balls driven from the teeing position 12 land on the appropriate forward green A through F, then the next ball is placed on the green 32 located abaft the teeing position 12 and within the chippingarea 18. Theball is placed on the green 32 a distance from the appropriate I from ball to hole will be difi'lcultto accurately determine.v For that reason,'an ideal land layout would be t i one in which the fairway terrain inclines slightly upwardly, thus facilitating, not only the abilityof the ball to hold the green, but also to provide for more accurate ball-to-hole distance estimation resulting, consequently, in a closer approximation of same on the green 32.

Although only nine teeing positions are depicted, to play 18 holes, the first nine teeing positions are merely repeated utilizing similar rules and regulations. Any suitable number of holes can be utilized, however, as long as they conform to any round figure of nine.

It will, of course, be further understood that other changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the golf course without departing from the scope of this invention, which, generally stated, consists in the matter shown and described herein and as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A method of playing a golf game on a course comprising a teeing area including a plurality of sequentially numbered teeing positions, means associated with said teeing positions for further identitying three of said teeing positions as the tee-off positions for a par- 3, par 4, and par- 5 hole, respectively, a forward field of play located forward of the teeing area and including a fairway area, a plurality of approach green areas each of which includes a hole therein, and a multitude of hazards including sand trap areas, water areas, rough grass arcas and undulating terrain areas; and a rearward field of play located rearward of said teeing area generally in alignment with the longitudinal axis of said fairway area and including a chipping area, a putting area with a plurality of holes therein numbered to correspond with the sequentially numbered teeing positions, and a multitude of hazards corresponding generally to the hazards in said forward field of play and including sand trap areas, steps which include,

form said teeing position indentified as a par- 3 hole,

the hitting of a first ball from a tee to a forward approach green area,

the placing of a second ball on said rearwardly located putting area without the counting of an additional stroke if said first ball lands on said forward approach green area and said ball is placed a distance form the putting hole approximating the distance of said first ball from said hole on said forward approach green area and the putting thereof until said ball drops into said appropriately numbered hole, the chipping of a second ball from said chipping area located rearwardly of said teeing area to said putting area if said first ball fails to land on said forward approach green area and the putting of said second ball until said ball drops into said appropriately numbered hole, the blasting of a second ball from said sand trap area located rearwardly of said teeing area to said putting area if said first ball lands in a forward sand trap area and the putting of said second ball thereof until said ball drops into said appropriately numbered hole;

from said teeing position identified as a par-4 hole,

the hitting of a first ball elevated on a tee to a forward approach green area and the hitting of a second ball from a grass portion of said teeing area to a forward approach green area which is closer to the teeing area than the forward approach green area used as a target for said first ball,

the placing of a third ball onto said rearwardly located putting area without the counting of an additional stroke if said first ball and second ball land on both of said forward approach green areas and said third ball is placed a distance from the putting hole approximating the closer of the two distances of said'first ball and said second ball from said holes on said forward green areas, and

the putting thereof until said ball drops into said appropriately numbered hole, the chipping of a third ball from said chipping area located rearwardly of said teeing area to said putting area if said first ball or said second ball fails to land on said forward approach green areas and the putting of said third ball until said ball drops into said appropriately numbered hole,

the blasting of a third ball from said sand .trap area located rearwardly of said teeing area to said putting area if said first ball or said second ball lands in a forward sand trap area and the putting of said third ball until said ball drops into said appropriately numbered hole; 7

from said teeing position identified as a par-5 hole, the hitting of a first ball elevated on a tee to a forward approach green area and the hitting of a second ball from a grass portion of said teeing area to another forward approach green area which is closer to the teeing area than .the forward approach green area used as a target for said first ball,

the placing of a third ball onto said rearwardly located putting area without the counting of an additional stroke if said first ball and said second ball land on both of said forward approach green areas and said third ball is placed a distance from the putting hole approximating the closer of the two distances of said first ball and said second ball from said holes on said forward approach green areas, and the putting thereof until said ball drops into said appropriately numbered hole,

the chipping of a third ball and a fourth ball from said chipping area located rearwardly of said teeing area to said putting area if said first ball and said second ball fail to land on said forward approach green areas and the putting of the closer of said third ball or said fourth ball until said ball drops into said appropriately numbered hole,

the blasting of a third ball and a fourth ball from said sand trap area located rearwardly of said teeing area to said rearwardly located putting area if said first ball and said second ball land in said forward sand trap areas and the putting of the closer of said third ball or said fourth ball until said ball drops into said appropriately numbered hole, the blasting of a third ball from a sand trap area located rearwardly of said teeing area to said rearwardly located putting area and the chipping of a fourth ball from said chipping area located rearwardly of said teeing area to said rearwardly located putting area if said first ball or said second ball lands in a forward sand trap area or fails to land on said forward approach green areas and the putting of the closer of said third ball or said fourth ball until said ball drops into said appropriately numbered hole. 

1. A method of playing a golf game on a course comprising a teeing area including a plurality of sequentially numbered teeing positions, means associated with said teeing positions for further identitying three of said teeing positions as the tee-off positions for a par- 3, par - 4, and par- 5 hole, respectively, a forward field of play located forward of the teeing area and including a fairway area, a plurality of approach green areas each of which includes a hole therein, and a multitude of hazards including sand trap areas, water areas, rough grass areas and undulating terrain areas; and a rearward field of play located rearward of said teeing area generally in alignment with the Longitudinal axis of said fairway area and including a chipping area, a putting area with a plurality of holes therein numbered to correspond with the sequentially numbered teeing positions, and a multitude of hazards corresponding generally to the hazards in said forward field of play and including sand trap areas, steps which include, from said teeing position indentified as a par- 3 hole, the hitting of a first ball from a tee to a forward approach green area, the placing of a second ball on said rearwardly located putting area without the counting of an additional stroke if said first ball lands on said forward approach green area and said ball is placed a distance from the putting hole approximating the distance of said first ball from said hole on said forward approach green area and the putting thereof until said ball drops into said appropriately numbered hole, the chipping of a second ball from said chipping area located rearwardly of said teeing area to said putting area if said first ball fails to land on said forward approach green area and the putting of said second ball until said ball drops into said appropriately numbered hole, the blasting of a second ball from said sand trap area located rearwardly of said teeing area to said putting area if said first ball lands in a forward sand trap area and the putting of said second ball thereof until said ball drops into said appropriately numbered hole; from said teeing position identified as a par-4 hole, the hitting of a first ball elevated on a tee to a forward approach green area and the hitting of a second ball from a grass portion of said teeing area to a forward approach green area which is closer to the teeing area than the forward approach green area used as a target for said first ball, the placing of a third ball onto said rearwardly located putting area without the counting of an additional stroke if said first ball and second ball land on both of said forward approach green areas and said third ball is placed a distance from the putting hole approximating the closer of the two distances of said first ball and said second ball from said holes on said forward green areas, and the putting thereof until said ball drops into said appropriately numbered hole, the chipping of a third ball from said chipping area located rearwardly of said teeing area to said putting area if said first ball or said second ball fails to land on said forward approach green areas and the putting of said third ball until said ball drops into said appropriately numbered hole, the blasting of a third ball from said sand trap area located rearwardly of said teeing area to said putting area if said first ball or said second ball lands in a forward sand trap area and the putting of said third ball until said ball drops into said appropriately numbered hole; from said teeing position identified as a par-5 hole, the hitting of a first ball elevated on a tee to a forward approach green area and the hitting of a second ball from a grass portion of said teeing area to another forward approach green area which is closer to the teeing area than the forward approach green area used as a target for said first ball, the placing of a third ball onto said rearwardly located putting area without the counting of an additional stroke if said first ball and said second ball land on both of said forward approach green areas and said third ball is placed a distance from the putting hole approximating the closer of the two distances of said first ball and said second ball from said holes on said forward approach green areas, and the putting thereof until said ball drops into said appropriately numbered hole, the chipping of a third ball and a fourth ball from said chipping area located rearwardly of said teeing area to said putting area if said first ball and said second ball fail to land on said forward approach green areas and the putting of the closer of said third ball or sAid fourth ball until said ball drops into said appropriately numbered hole, the blasting of a third ball and a fourth ball from said sand trap area located rearwardly of said teeing area to said rearwardly located putting area if said first ball and said second ball land in said forward sand trap areas and the putting of the closer of said third ball or said fourth ball until said ball drops into said appropriately numbered hole, the blasting of a third ball from a sand trap area located rearwardly of said teeing area to said rearwardly located putting area and the chipping of a fourth ball from said chipping area located rearwardly of said teeing area to said rearwardly located putting area if said first ball or said second ball lands in a forward sand trap area or fails to land on said forward approach green areas and the putting of the closer of said third ball or said fourth ball until said ball drops into said appropriately numbered hole. 